By Augustine Oduor
Secondary school student leaders have sent a strong message to the Government to spread its resources evenly to all schools to improve the quality of grades.
They said schools in marginalised areas have continued to perform poorly in national exams because they lack facilities to enhance academic excellence.
In tough 13-point resolutions at the end of their five-day national conference in Nairobi, the 2,200 students drawn from across the country said:
"Pursuant to the provisions of Chapter Four Article 55 (a) of the Constitution of Kenya we demand that the Government should avail sufficient and equitable spread of resources in the education sector so that every student learns," the resolved.
"Some schools do not even have laboratories yet they sit the same exams that national schools do. This is does not ensure the full potential of learners is achieved."
The students through their National Student Council also asked the Government to involve them in school management organs that make decisions that affect them. "We want to be involved in school committees and district boards that make decisions that directly affect us."
Participation
The president-elect of the students council, Clifford Kipchumba, asked the Ministry of Education that as young leaders in secondary schools, they must be involved in all reforms touching on the students affairs.
However, on their part, they resolved to ensure school unrests were kept on check. "We shall undertake to uphold peace and promote tolerance at all times. In doing so, we resolve to form peace clubs in our schools and use them to promote unity and harmony for prosperity and national development," they said.
This peace resolution comes at a time a new survey revealed that the adoption of student councils as a type of leadership in secondary schools has greatly reduced unrest in schools.
The study indicates that since the new system of student leadership was introduced in 2009, there has been a significant drop in cases of school disorder.
They also asked the Kenya National Examination Council to embrace a ranking system that recognises both academic achievements and talents.
"The Kenya Institute of Education should undertake a curriculum review to incorporate competencies, skills and talent development at all levels," read the resolutions in part.
"We also demand that Higher Education Loans Board be autonomous and fully funded so that all students can access funds for any course in both private and public universities and middle level colleges."
